Witchcraft and Judaism

If magic and the occult do exist, why are they so evil?

Most children are thrilled by stories of witches and devils, Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort. In an otherwise dry and rational world, those mysterious forces add an element of fun and excitement and stir the imagination. They allow a youngster to feel that there is a way to beat a merciless and insensitive system.

Born poor through no fault of your own? No problem ― a wonderful fairy will come to your doorstep and give you the fortune you so longed for. A bully is tormenting you mercilessly? A spell will be cast and he will become a squirrel for the rest of his life.

The Blair Witch Project films give teenagers a momentary shot of excitement and dread, and an ominous whiff that maybe there really is something lurking out there.

Three General Approaches

When a person matures, three general approaches towards the occult and other outside forces begin to emerge.

There are the serious, rational mindsets who laugh it all off. For them the world is rational, quantifiable and anything else is utter rubbish.

The world has a spiritual dimension with mysteries we cannot comprehend.

There is a second group of people, who tend to be spiritual, artistic, poetic, etc. They sense the world has a spiritual dimension to it, and that there are all sorts of forces and mysteries that reason can't comprehend. Theirs is a world of tea-leaf readings, tarot cards, crystal balls and psychic predictions.

Then there are those very deeply religious people, whose worldview is that of a great battle between the two forces in the world ― good and evil. The captain of the good team is God, assisted by a host of angels, saints, martyrs, etc. The captain of the bad team is the devil, assisted by demons, evil spirits and politicians. Their world is particularly threatened by the likes of Harry Potter books, due to a large degree to the severity with which witchcraft is dealt with in the Bible.

Not Jewish

None of these three general approaches are in keeping with Judaism. What is the Torah perspective regarding witchcraft?

The Torah takes a very negative attitude towards witchcraft in its various formats, such as:

"A sorcerer shall not be allowed to live." (Exodus 22:17)

"For you are coming into a land that God is granting to you; do not learn the ways of the abominations of the native people. There shall not be found amongst you ... a sorcerer, soothsayer or engager of witchcraft ... or one who calls up the dead. For it is an abomination before God, and it is on account of these abominations that God is giving you their land." (Deut. 18:9-12)

But why? What is the problem with it?

The so-called "devil vs. God" approach is an anathema to Judaism because of the whiff of dualism inherent in it. God is One, and only One. He acts in many different ways, but there are no "two" armies in the full sense of the word.

Judaism does speak of the "Satan/devil," but it sees Satan as an agent of God, testing the sincerity of man's deeds, the strength of his convictions, and the stamina of his moral fiber. Although this so-called devil seems to entice man to do wrong, he is not inherently an evil being. Rather, he is conducting a "sting" operation; overtly enticing to bad, but in reality working for God. A cursory reading of the beginning of Job conveys that message: God sends out Satan to test Job's righteousness.

Just as a dentist or doctor tests the firmness of a bone or flesh by probing it, just as the army tests the integrity and trustworthiness of its intelligence agents by tempting them, so too does God test man. A test reveals the inner worthiness of a person's deeds, demonstrating what they are really made of.

So, if magic and occult do exist, why are they so evil?

Good Magic, Bad Magic

We also find mention of many types of "good magic" in the Talmudic sources, such as blessings, amulets etc. How do we distinguish between the two types of spiritual forces?

The perspective most widely used is that of the Nachmanides, the great 12th century thinker. We will try to adapt and explain his perspective.

Although God was the sole creator of the universe, He created an autonomous system of "nature" that serves as an intermediate layer between God and man.

The system of nature is self-contained and has its laws and its causes and effects. Being that one can use this system without immediate recourse to God, it allows for a sort of atheism. It is easy to think that the system runs on its own, independent from God. Gravity, inertia, electro-magnetism etc. all work whether the person is a sinner or a saint. A person who buys into the phenomena of nature, without bothering to ask himself about their cause, nor being sensitive to God's manipulation of natural events, is misled by the system into disbelief in God.

The world of the quasi-spiritual can bend the rules of nature through miracles and magic.

Between God and this world of nature lies another bridge, which we shall call the "occult" or the quasi-spiritual. It has the ability to change and bend the rules of nature, through miracles, magic, etc. But this quasi-spiritual world, although it is more elevated than nature per se, is still not the Divine. It has its rules and laws of operation, and is perhaps more powerful than the physical world, but certainly not omnipotent.

Are we to make use of this world in the way which we are bidden to make use of the physical world?

Nachmanides says that generally speaking God does not desire that we make use of this world. God had intended for us to come to awareness of Him within the natural world, and through its phenomena. Someone who subverts the system of nature, by constantly using the supernatural world, is going against the will of God.

In those instances where holy people have used forces above nature, they've always emphasized the fact that the miracles thus generated only demonstrated God's omnipotence to override natural phenomena. This is similar to (though certainly not the same as) the miracles that God performed for Israel in Egypt with the aim of establishing certain Divine truths. When a righteous person occasionally uses Divine intervention, it bolsters those great truths.

Danger Of Wrong-Doing

It is at this point that the danger of real wrongdoing exists. A person who has realized that the laws of nature unto themselves are insufficient to explain the world, has tapped into this more spiritual world and come upon a melange of all sorts of "spiritual beings." If he understands they are agents of God, this becomes a true spiritual experience. But if he mistakenly understands them to be independent of God, then he engages in idol-worship! These forces then become a source for evil when they are viewed as an alternative power to God.

Perhaps the best illustration for this dual approach is inherent in the story of the "copper snake":

And the people spoke ill of God and Moses ... and God sent against them the burning serpents and they bit the people, and many people died ... and God told Moses: "Shape a snake [out of copper] and place it on a stick, and whoever was bitten will look at it and live." Moses then made a snake of copper and put it on a stick, and if a person was bitten by a snake, he would look at the copper snake and live. (Numbers 21:4-9)

The Mishna (Rosh Hashana 29a) puts this into perspective:

Did the serpent heal or kill? Rather, when Israel looked up heavenward, and dedicated their hearts to their Heavenly Father [they would be healed], and when not, they would waste away.

Here we have both facets of the supernatural: At first, the miraculous nature of the snake caused people to realize that the plague was God's doing, and they worked on bettering themselves. In this vein it was a positive spiritual experience.

But later things disintegrated and instead of the snake being a means to recognizing God, it became a focal point in itself, i.e. the wonderful healing snake ― separate from God's power. That is idolatry. For this reason, many hundreds of years later, King Hezekiah had this copper snake destroyed because people turned it into an idol!

Understanding Idol Worship

Idol worship is the perception that there are many forces with various powers over mankind and perhaps even over God. The idolater thinks that he can use these "powers" against God if he only knew how to wrest them away from God.

It's as if God's power were vested in a gun He holds in His hand. The idolater thinks that if could only wrest the gun from God, then he'd wield that power. He equates the spells of witchcraft with the ability to overpower God.

The prime example of this thinking is the evil prophet Bilaam, who is called a sorcerer by the Torah. He was a person very knowledgeable in this area of the universe. He kept scheming to use the world of magic against God. He thought he understood the mind of God and that with enough powerful manipulation, he would be able to outfox Him!

In a sense, this is the worst form of idolatry possible. On the one hand, the person is onto something "real." It is not a weird looking rock that a primitive mind has fantasized into a god. Rather, it is a power that works. Yet, it is utterly false, because nothing is independent of God.

The litmus test of "spirituality" is morality. Without morality any "spirituality" is bogus or evil.

For us, the litmus test of "spirituality" is morality. Any form of "spirituality" that makes no moral demands on a human being, that does not seek to bring him closer to God, or bring out the Divine potential of man, is bogus or evil spirituality.

If a person practices "occult rites" and the content thereof is a mumble of strange words, bizarre costumes, or strange rites, it is either bogus or evil. It usually is bogus, but in those cases that he has tapped into these powers, it is evil for he has divorced it from God.

The great rabbis who performed supernatural acts, were using them to bring home a message about God. They enjoined people to recognize the Creator, develop their character, be kind to others, be honest and faithful, reign in their drives, etc. Understood in the larger context of God, Torah and morality, these unusual miracles were indeed Divine revelations.

Visitor Comments: 71

(65)
Anonymous,
November 1, 2014 1:05 PM

Excellent!

This is excellent and I'm so proud to be a Jew! Thanks for posting this!

(64)
Manasseh,
November 1, 2014 12:00 AM

Truth In A Nutshell

Thankou Rabbi Ahron for this article I think this stament;.."In those instances where holy people have used forces above nature, they've always emphasized the fact that the miracles thus generated only demonstrated God's omnipotence to override natural phenomena...." Speaks the whole truth in a nutshell

(63)
Raphaelle Do Lern Hwei,
October 31, 2014 3:43 AM

The problem of good vs evil

I am glad this article points out the problem of dividing people into being of G-d or being of the Devil. Because people change, unfortunately, our perception of them do not change so fast.
This could be the original sin in the book of Genesis. The choice of knowing what is good and what is evil. Thus really trying to play G-d, the Judge.

(62)
Michael,
October 30, 2014 9:47 PM

Questions about "rinkets"

What is the Jewish view of Humsas and "blue evil eye" hangings and the like? They are popular, particularly among the Sephardim, but this article suggests they might be improper What is the Jewish view of those objects? What if they contain on then prayers like the prayer for the home? .Does that make a difference? Thank you.

(61)
Anonymous,
October 30, 2014 8:04 PM

Judaism Does Not Believe in Witchcraft

The statements in the article regarding belief in witchcraft and the occult are neither required by Torah or Judaism. The Rambam, for example, sharply condemned the belief in astrology, though many rabbis in the Talmud believed in it. The proper attitude towards witchcraft is no being has such supernatural powers, because, as Rabbi Chanina stated in Sanhedrein "Ein Od Milvado" , there is no power other than God. The condemnation of witchcraft in the Torah is not because it is effective, it is because belief and practice of witchcraft is a form of Avodah Zarah, idolatry, that there are other powers in the universe that can thwart God's will or are beside God. One does not have to believe in superstition to be an Orthodox Jew.

Anonymous,
October 31, 2014 11:45 AM

The Torah Doesn't Forbid What Doesn't Exist

The Torah is incredibly careful with words. It would not forbid us from using something if that something didn't exist - and that alone shows that witchcraft is not superstition, but real. While we in the "modern" world have pretty much relegated witchcraft to mere superstition, there are areas of the world where it is alive and well. Someone very close to me devoted many years to studying witchdoctors in Africa, following their training and observing the often harrowing results - include murder by distance - and this doubting scientist was forced to conclude that witchcraft is indeed, all too real.

(60)
ruthhousman,
October 30, 2014 6:07 PM

The Book of Ruth

It's ALL God. This entire Creation including atheists, agnostics, mystics, spirituaists, saints and sinners. It's a singing Creation that deeply involves the aleph bet. Let there be light! Since the Entire Story is scripted by a Divine Hand so also the realization of a Divine Promise. The KEYS are in the words.

(59)
source,
October 30, 2014 6:01 PM

Can someone provide the source of the quote from Nachmanides?
Thank you

(58)
Anonymous,
October 27, 2013 10:53 AM

Lead pouring

Lead pouring has been promoted in a leading Haredi magazine as a means of getting rid of an ayin hora. This seems to have originated from a goyish practice, followed in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, of pouring lead into water on the new year to see what their fortune will be. Why is this a permissible practice for Jews? Is an ayin hora real?

(57)
Sam,
May 21, 2012 8:32 PM

Morality = Spirituality?

Morality IS intrinsic to any authentic form of spirituality. And I understand that, for whatever reason(s), many Orthodox Rabbis love to pit the Torah and its mandates against virtually every other form of spirituality in the world. And to a great extent, rightly so, since the Torah IS the blueprint for the entire created world as we know it. The problem is, as with any system, everything is contingent upon the kavannah/intent with which the practitioners carry out the mandates (even the exception of "lo lishmah, ba lishmah requires some degree of proper intent). And therein lies the rub. The Children of Israel are in a current 2,000 year galut/exile because of "sinat chinum" -- causeless hatred -- which is CLEARLY a morality issue. And not only is it a morality (or lack thereof) issue, Hashem has demonstrated that full bore idol worship is more forgivable than sinat chinom! (70 years vs 2,000 years and counting).
Furthermore, you have totally overgeneralized everything in your depiction of modern day witchcraft. There are many divergent groups (Wicca, The Old Religion, Paganism, Satanism, Black Magic, Voodo, etc.), and it's irresponsible to lump them all together. Because there ARE groups that clearly recognize a Supreme Being, yet find it preferable to focus on the male/female forces that rule nature instead. And while that's certainly foreign to the Jewish view of proper worship, I'm not entirely sure it's against the basic Noahide guidelines, especially when such groups focus on good deeds, tenets of morality (harm no one and no thing), exercising balance and moderation in all things, while still acknowledging and recognizing a Supreme Being. So while I think I understand your reason for posting this (i.e. to serve up a warning about a potentially dangerous religious practice as you see it and understand it), it strikes me as more alarmist and sensationalistic than truly well informed, however well-intended.
B"H

(56)
Anonymous,
August 14, 2011 2:46 PM

How to overcome witchcraft

BSD I am elated that someone wrote about it. I did not believe in such till very recently. But the reality is if the Torah tells us about them, they are real, no matter how much you can lull yourself into denying it. These forces are sometimes utilized by people who have somehow stumbled on them or are incarnated souls whose families have some of the secret incantations to manipulate them. However I have learnt much of how to overcome witchcraft. 1) Darkness is only an absence of spiritual light - i.e. even the tiniest candle can extinguish the greatest darkness. Soul searching helps: One can utter David's prayer 'Of unperceived faults cleanse me'. 2. Praise and thanksgiving -blessings and certain prayers help against any who have mastered to employ those forces for their own agenda. 3) Since H'S is Echad, nothing and no one can operate or function outside the Will of The Creator. (H'S Hu Elokeinu, ein od milvado) i.e. the witch is only an agent for some Divine decree. One needs to examine what gave rise to the infliction that one suffers, and to remind you, Repentance, prayer, and charity avert the evil decree. Because if one has suffered at the hands of anyone, it first had to be authorised by G-d. The reality is that G-d tells us 'this is what you will find in The Land, tells us not to practice such', and much of what King David wrote teaches us secrets of how to overcome these, and lastly, this is for our benefit, because not only will we overcome them, little by little, but in the process we will totally drive them out, B'H! Ultimately, encountering witchcraft will lead us to teshuva, and as we draw closer to H'S, we will learn to use the tools that have been given us to draw the Divine Influence down, and draw the Spiritual light into our life, our home, our family, our neighbourhood, our city, our land.....and those who practice the occult very quickly move away, because spiritual light causes them more pain than the darkness they employ.

Rivka,
November 18, 2013 4:37 PM

Well said, Moshe.

(55)
Anonymous,
August 14, 2011 11:30 AM

Slippery slopes

Morality is rooted in our essential attitude towards God. Adam was immoral because he chose to follow his own wisdom. Esau was immoral because he held a poor attitude towards his holy birthright. Immorality, being a form of rejection of that which is holy or the imposition of self rule, will lead to deeper erosions in the relationship between the one who chooses such a path and our God who desires only to re-establish a holy relationship. But, if someone insists on having their way, God allows them their choice. The Jews were exiled partially because they worshipped the gods and goddesses of the east, so God sent them to the east to make it more convenient. In other words God turns men over to their own desires and what men desire most comes upon them. The ancient priests of Israel used to perform exorcisms. I have personally seen demons beng cast out of people in the nations and it is real. Invaribaly, these people who had demons were involved in a dark religion. Anyway thanks for the article, the subject deserves a book. Please let me know when it is published.

(54)
Flavius,
May 5, 2011 3:37 AM

There are a number underlying philosophical problems in this problem. One to think about is that the author defines morality as spirituality and spirituality is morality. So the problem here is that we are in a paradox that both spirituality and morality rely on another for being sufficiently true. If A then B and if B then A. This is contradictory to logic. I think logic and mathematics is the language of the universe and if God is the "creator" of the language of the universe and If (proposition) spirituality is morality contradicts logic then the same proposition also contradicts the language of God. Furthermore, if we define spirituality as morality, then the next question to ask is what is morality? Moral demands. Then what is moral demands? The second problem is we have one concept defining another concept, and then this concept defines another concept and so we are defining a concept based on another concept. Thus, there is a homunculus fallacy. It is not clear what we mean by spirituality and it cannot mean that spirituality is moral demands because then we have no clear and distinct definition between the two concepts. Also, if witchcraft, magic etc. are all powers of God, and if you are using these powers to heal I really do not see anything ethically wrong about this. How different is it then what use do in this day an age, technology, acupuncture, meditation, these are all forces of God. I think there is a lot of misinterpretation by interpreters (Rabbi's) but then again I don't blame them we are only human and finite and we are ALL very limited (not perfect) in truly understanding ourselves, nature and God.

Ron,
May 29, 2011 7:52 PM

logic relies on axioms

It is commendable that you try to understand the world, and that you try to use formal logic, in order to minimize wrong thinking. But any fan of logic should become aware of the famous works of Kurt Godel ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_G%C3%B6del ) to realise that even logic has its limitations in trying to explain the universe. Some things fall outside the logic system, which doesn't mean that those illogical conclusions are invalid.

Eric,
June 3, 2011 6:17 PM

I agree with the idea that critical thought plays an essential role in religious life/experience, but I think your critique of the article based on formal logic is superficial. I think it's a good idea when discussing a text to cite the portion of the text you are referring to; this doesn't just help the reader, it would help you as well. If you had cited the text you would not have been able to make your argument, because the author - in the text - never defines spirituality and morality in terms of one another. Here's the text: "For us, the litmus test of "spirituality" is morality. Any form of "spirituality" that makes no moral demands on a human being, that does not seek to bring him closer to God, or bring out the Divine potential of man, is bogus or evil spirituality." The author explicitly relates morality as a "litmus test" for spirituality. In other words morality evaluates spirituality in the same way that a litmus test doesn't define a substance, it evaluates a quality of it; a thermometer measures your body temperature, it doesn't offer any definition of essence. Furthermore, the end of this quote alludes to "evil spirituality." By linking spirituality to the possibility of evil, the author can be seen as having resisted a conflation of spirituality with morality, as evil morality is an incoherent concept (we talk about evil as immoral, a lack of morality).
While not explicit, the author does seem to offer a conception of morality in describing its absence as that "which does not seek to bring him closer to God, or bring out the Divine potential of man." The author links morality to connection with God and this relationship/criteria is what determines whether spirituality is positive. As a corollary, it would seem the spiritual dimension mirrors the physical world: is physical action/engagement good or bad? To the extent that it fosters a connection to the Divine it's good and to the extent that it distances it's bad. It's the same litmus test

Anonymous,
January 16, 2012 9:39 AM

issue with your logic

It is never said that Spirituality is always equivalent to Morality, but that Spirituality may lead to Morality but not necessarily.
Morality is solely decided by God, hence we have a concept of Objective Morality, to believe in a Subjective Morality is an absurdity that can't be rationalized and thus you either have Objective morality or no morality.
The issue isn't in the action necessarily of using powers from we will say "another realm" (though we can't be certain that the powers prescribed by God prophets weren't endowed to them in other ways under Gods ability). The issue is how the person who harnesses those powers directs their affects. If a man heals someone and then claims he did it by his own power, or by the power of another God he is committing a sin. You see time and time again men of God who always give their accomplishments to God. If you use the power of God to do good in this world, then give him credit. If you fail to give him credit it is as if you ingratiated yourself with someone elses wealth. If you use the power of God to do evil deeds or selfish deeds then you are obviously not a righteous person.
There is a lot of scripture to back up the claim that any glorification of self is a sin, and abhorrent. And as they say, power corrupts, how easy is it to wield the powers of God and then claim them as your own.
There should be no attempt made to take power from God without his permission or endowment. If God blesses you with a gift to use it for his purpose, then so be it. But it seems obvious that the prohibition against witchcraft, etc is in response to those people who attempt to bend the rules of the natural world without directing their attention towards God. Which really is the whole point of this stint we have here on Earth, to direct our attentions toward God like any good spouse would.

(53)
Anonymous,
June 13, 2010 1:55 PM

Evil is real, so to speak, but not independent of G-d

Evil is real, but it is only from a human perspective. Since G-d is the source of good and evil, then all things are "good" in His perspective. But when we experience harsh judgment, that is for us "evil." You seem to have trouble with the concept of punishment.

(52)
Anonymous,
December 6, 2008 3:41 PM

Evil is real.

Evil cannot be real unless there are supernatural beings that are against God, in rebellion, working against him. Otherwise there would be no reason to test. If the Devil only works for God, then what happens to those who fail the tests?

(51)
Anonymous,
May 4, 2006 12:00 AM

Good but missing clarity about such movements as spiritualism & spiritual healing [- including Reiki -] which tend to have a very moral structure but still don't necessarily attach themselves to G-d.

(50)
EMILY SILLS,
November 9, 2005 12:00 AM

witchcraft and judaism

Excellent article and very timely. I am printing it so I can pass it around to all of my friends and family. Please continue to speak out on subjects such as this.

(49)
B. J.,
November 1, 2005 12:00 AM

Occult means not relying on God and disobeying commandments #1 and #2

I think you are missing the big picture when God bans witchcraft on pain of death. You are trying to rely on a spiritual force other than God. That is idolatry - in direct opposition to commandment #1 and #2. When you come to that point, (s)he has already made a conscious decision not to rely on God or worship God. The bronze snake is a specific mathod that God used to demonstrate His salvation and is not any kind of sorcery, witchcraft, or magic. I don't think the theory of additional layer than nauture is very plausible. I have to disagree with Nachmanides on this one.

(48)
Anonymous,
October 30, 2005 12:00 AM

Comments on Bilham

Dear Sirs,

The power that Bilham had cannot be associated with Avodah Zara. It was a power given to him by Hashem which Bilham could use for good or evil. Avoda Zara is something completely different, as in that case the power was believed to be resident in the object of Avoda Zara, whereas Bilham acknowledged that he could only do what Hashem would let him do. Asheros are considered Avodah Zara. Bilham, although a sone Israel, was given profetical powers by Hashem to applacate any objection from non Jews that if a man of the greatness of Moses would be given to them, they would do tschuva. They got Bilham.
Bilham had some powers that were even not given to Moses, such as the timing
and the advise to offer Sacrifices at the mount of Zofim. This indicates that, had it not been for Hashem's desire to keep Am Israel, they would have been destroyed by Bilham. These powers are not Avodah Zara, as they were directly delegated to Bilham, who knew the source of the power.

(47)
Nehamashira,
October 30, 2005 12:00 AM

A clearly articulated message.

(46)
Jared,
October 30, 2005 12:00 AM

Pretty Neat

This is an excellent article. I would like to bring up some other info too. There are many mystical societies like the Rosicrucians who stress purity and morality along with the study of mysticism. In their otology, they believe that things which most consider "occult" are really metaphysical and have no basis in the "spirit world". Things like telekinesis are merely not understood, but not necessesarily "spiritual".

(45)
Miriam,
October 30, 2005 12:00 AM

Many Parallels

I think that there are many parallels in today's society for "occult"-like thinking, i.e. the medical society. People very often look to doctors as those people in King Chizkiahu's time looked at the snake. And what about how today's society looks at money? The fantasy world of Harry Potter is a lot less harmful for most because it's clearly fantasy. Medicine and Money, however, are looked to as magical, and that is more of a problem in daily life. Hashem sends the money and the healing, but we forget this and spend long hours at work thinking we will get more that way, or running from dr. to dr. thinking that they cure people. Hashem decides these things, and we forget. We have to go through the motions, but because we all go through the motions, this is more of an issue than occult.

(44)
Anonymous,
October 30, 2005 12:00 AM

talismans

What about the use of talismans, amulets, and good luck charms? Is their use allowed?

(43)
Ruth,
October 30, 2005 12:00 AM

Thank you for Torah truth

Thank You Thank You Thank You for
this article. When truth is presented
from Torah may G-d's Words speak
for themselves and then choose life.
G-d gave us so much information on
this subjuct so that we would not be
deceived by the occult, and it's subtle
ways. May we see Messiah come and the
world be content with Him and His ways.
I look forward to the day when Halloween and occult books are no longer the norm for our young. Bless Aish for their willingness to tell the truth!

(42)
Tom Beck,
November 12, 2004 12:00 AM

There's nothing wrong with harmless fantasy

The kind of "witchcraft" present in the Harry Potter novels is a harmless bit of fantasy. It is not any kind of agent of real devilry, other than the fact that Lord Voldemort is quite evil. But even he is not the agent of any darker force; he IS the dark force incarnate. Any great plot requires a great villain, and that's all he is. He is motivated not by hatred of God or a rejection of God, but by simple shallow ambition. One can say that Rowling's novels do not perform any particularly great good, but they certainly perform no evil. They are highly entertaining, they have inspired millions of children to take up the habit of reading, they present a compelling tale of courage against great odds - what's really so wrong with that?

I'm one of those rational people you mentioned, who tends to look to science for most answers. I spend a lot of time trying to balance my Judaism with my scientific and historical outlook. I don't see anything the least bit threatening to either from my interest in science fiction and fantasy.

(41)
Naomi Cohen,
November 4, 2004 12:00 AM

Enjoyed it very much. Everyone needs to read itl

I had hoped to read what can be done to aid an individual who has been "hexed" by a sorcerer.

(40)
Anonymous,
November 3, 2004 12:00 AM

wee bit of paranoia

for starters not all tea leaf readers and tarot card devotees believe in some higher "occult" power. most of it is for entertainment purposes. its not as if tarot cards are one step away from dancing naked around a bonfire.
and kids (as well as adults) enjoyment of stories that employee witchcraft, magic and other fantasy like worlds are also for simple entertainment and interest.
i can't think of something more boring than reading a book or watching a movie about the things that the masses do day in and day out. most people much rather bite into a mystery, a fantasy, a peek into a world that is not our own.
seeing sinister and anti-G-d messages in these entertainments is the product of paranoid minds that cannot seperate the real threat from the imaginary ones.
harry potter isn't the enemy. don't Jews have enough real threats and enemis to keep us occupied as it is without making up new ones?

LittleGator,
January 16, 2012 2:27 AM

Perhaps we should look deeper within ourself if we feel the need to justify and defend, such entertainment.

(39)
Anonymous,
November 1, 2004 12:00 AM

Thanks for a very helpful article

Some years ago I was a member of a magical order, which used ceremonial magic within a kabbalistic structure. The point of magic (briefly) is to achieve mastery over the self and the outer world to the degree where one becomes identified with god. The problem with it is that it turns my will into god's will so that I become god and so I end up deifying myself. This is in complete contrast with the Torah, where God is seen as infinitely higher and more powerful than created beings. We are called to accept the will of God and His commands: "make His will your will". Having left the path of magic and lived an observant life, I am very happy to say that I would rather be a talmid Torah, howver humble and ignorant, than a magician.

(38)
Anonymous,
November 1, 2004 12:00 AM

This was extremely helpful, re understanding the "occult"

I have always felt that the world of nature that I experience in every day journeys, is more than just scenery, that there is something to the sentience that older cultures ascribed to it, some real feeling that there were sprites and spirits of woods and water for example. Reading this explanation that these qualities are
G_d given and can co exist with regular religious devotion, validates what I feel and is one of the most satisfying essays I've received in my year or so of subscribing to aish.

(37)
Nathan,
November 1, 2004 12:00 AM

truncated view

Your article reflects a non-Jewish fear of the so-called "occult." The Gemara is full of "occult" type occurences or remedies. To confuse these with Hollywood depictions of the spriritual, or with xtian hostility (in which Jews were killed as witches) ignores a large part of our tradition. For more, see "Magic of the Ordinary" by Rabbi Gerson Winkler.

(36)
MARJORIE ABELSON,
October 31, 2004 12:00 AM

GENERALIZATIONS OF THE ARTISTIC MIND

HOW COULD YOU ASSUME THAT THOSE OF US THAT ARE ARTISTIC OR MORE SPIRITUAL ARE MORE PRONE TO TEA LEAVES AND PSYCHICS? I TRULY TAKE OFFENSE TO THAT. I FEEL MY ARTISTIC AND SPIRITUAL ABILITIES ALLOW ME TO SEE WHAT GOD HAS CREATED IN A MORE INTENSE WAY. YOUR GENERALIZATIONS HAVE ATTACHED A SIGMA TO WHAT I FEEL IS A BLESSING.

(35)
kayed almas,
April 7, 2003 12:00 AM

Comments

Beautiful and convincing article.. Thanks!

(34)
Kolyahu ben Asher,
December 7, 2002 12:00 AM

Moshiach (for Esther)

B"H
What can I add to your words? I can not add much. I hope and pray that mankind will one day wake from its' death, its' separation from the love of HaShem and His Light, HaTorah L'Chaim.
I once was a Christian. I had values and ethics very similar beliefs to Jewish ones. I thought I knew the Messiah in a personal relationship, etc., etc.
What I found was that I was guilty of hate, and worse, idolatry. I had caused the people of Israel harm and had no understanding of the words of the Nazarene. I was blinded by pagan tradition, etc., etc.
I went through a time of wrestlings as Yaacov had done. What I finally realized was that there is only one Higher power, His name is actually nameless except that which can be spoken with the heart & soul. I finally realized also that the deity of a man is not even what that man was actually teaching. He was talking as IF he were the Torah. Had his words in that kind of context been deified by the goyim instead of falsely applying their pagan theologies to those things, We would've seen the age of Moshiach a long long time ago. Deify the words of the Tzaddikim and you will see its' because they have been speaking the Torah of the Mighty one of Israel all along. Shalom!

(33)
Anonymous,
November 1, 2002 12:00 AM

What quasi-spritual world?

There is no "quasi-spiritual". To say that there is, is to deny the idea that the Almighty is omnipotent. If sorcery can occur it occurs because G-d allows it if G-d ever wanted it not to occur he could stop it. Also we must remmember that the "psychics" of today, who claim to have been born with some sort of extra-sensory perception, assuming that they are not lying, have been given this talent by G-d.
Although we human beings are given free-will is I sincerely doubt that G-d would allow

(32)
Vlad Seder,
October 31, 2002 12:00 AM

midnight in the garden of good and evil

Good article. It's amazing that so many people after reading it are still asking "what's wrong with occult, wicca, magic, etc?" Well, to put it simple, it's like cheating on an exam: trying to use shortcut instead performing your task. Occult, wicca, magic, etc. are so popular in America for the same reason as any other "quick fix" or "magic pill" - either for a soured relationship or for treating simptoms instead of the actual disease. G-d brings us to the world so we would work on our spiritual growth by controling our base desires and behave in all life situations according to His Torah, but we would prefer to resolve our problems with magic, "turn Arafat into a vegetable" and go back to our business as usual - watching TV, cheating our wifes and lying to our shareholders. But maybe Arafat our "wake-up call"?

"if you do not believe in evil, how do you explain Hitler? Do you believe he was an agent of God or of evil?" - great question! But of course, Hitler was not an agent - neither of G-d nor of evil. He was a human being - just like you and me, a human being created by G-d. But G-d created all of us with a free will, and Hitler used his free will to chose to do evil, evil was flowing out of him like mighty river into the world. There is no abstract evil in this world - it's always concrete, done by very concrete people - who chose in their clear mind to abandon G-d's path and try to elbow G-d out of this world. It is the mere existence of the Jews who chose to do what they are supposed to do, to "walk the walk", without using the shortcuts of the magic, that prevents Hitlers from suceeding:

"The struggle for world domination will be fought entirely between us – between Germans and Jews........
Providence has ordained that I should be the greatest liberator of humanity. I am freeing man from the restraints of an intelligence that has taken charge, from the dirty and degrading self-mortifications of a false vision known as conscience and morality, and from the demands of a freedom and personal independence which only a very few can bear..........
The Ten Commandments have lost their vitality. Conscience is a Jewish invention; it is a blemish, like circumcision..." Adolph Hitler.

(31)
Esther,
October 30, 2002 12:00 AM

So much misconception!

This was truly a well written article, but I found it very disconcerting that it needed to be written in the first place. One sort of thinks that all the Pagan beliefs died off in Western Society some time ago. I personally thought that the beliefs in the doctrines of Science and evolution were the “idol worship” of our generation. Science is not just the understanding of the way nature and all things physical function (which is an intellectual pursuit) but the way the academics and proponders of various theories attempt to further us from the belief of a Devine being to have been able to create all we perceive. The thought is too restricting and mind boggling and doesn’t allow one to go beyond a certain limit (although they too must realize that they have a limit….what happened before the Big Bang and how was that material in existence anyways?!) With the development of various other theories and forms of worship one is attempting to shirk off the responsibility to obey G-d’s commandments and conform to a certain way of behavior and morality (besides obeying a code of laws). In other words if you don’t believe G-d exists then you have no responsibility to behave in any certain way besides the way you see fit. Responding to Anonymous 4/8/’01 , what makes you think that the Sun worshipers or moon worshipper’s were not peaceful and good people. Anyone who is awestruck with the greatness of the creation is obviously a thinking and even civilized person. People who worship anything in nature are missing the point. All the beauty around us was created in order to help us exist and cause us to be aware of the greatness of our Creator. To worship the servants of the King is not just foolishness (and missing the point) darn right ingratitude and even scornfulness! How would your Mother like if you patted the wash machine on the lid every time it did a load for you and not thank her? In the Mishnah a very seeming harsh statement is made: Whoever interrupts his/her learning and comments on a tree and says how pretty is this tree is a Mishchayev BeNofsho ( liable for his own soul ). Why ? because the whole purpose of creation is to bring us to a primitive awareness of G-d but the Torah is G-ds word and part and parcel of G-d-and to lose hold of that fact by announcing the beauty of Nature means you didn’t even get the point. You’ve missed the point. You’ve replaced the Divine understanding with the primitive-and thus forfeiting the Jews whole reason d’entre! (of course this doesn’t mean a Jew can’t stroll in the park and admire creation-but it’s the when he/she is doing it. Not in the middle of being in the “inner chamber’s of G-d world and communication with Him through learning or prayer).
As for David ben Rafael’s post; David the first half of your post sounded fine but you must know that Moshiach is not a security blanket concept. It is part and parcel with true Torah beliefs. Deny Moshiach or the need for him and you are denying the whole truth of the Torah. I would think that this concept would be as clear as the light of day in the times we live now. We occupy Israel and although there is not enough accord in the community every Jew shares a love for Israel. But being in a land and sharing that love has not saved us from the troubles we are not experiencing with the Bnei Ishmael. Neither is there any real hope of getting out of it using any worldly means. It’s not like fighting WWII where all you needed was a good army and good weapons and allot of man power. That won’t help here and every solution only brings with it even worse problems. Moshiach is meant to unify all Jews in service to G-d (not just as a group of people living in their own country) and teach us the ways to serve G-d and help us improve the entire Spiritual situation for the Jewish people and the world. There is no current leader who can do this and it would need a highly Spiritual person and special in all ways to unify our nation. The existence of Moshiach and his coming have been preprogrammed into the creation of the universe and thus essential for it’s survival. This is the will of G-d and nothing has changed since this concept has come into being (even though we now live in the 20th century with Pentium 4 computer’s and the possibility of Mach 8 transportation!

(30)
Anonymous,
October 29, 2002 12:00 AM

Question: What about the people who seem to have been born with the ability to connect with this dimension?

The article mentions people who are involved with "..Theirs is a world of tea-leaf readings, tarot cards, crystal balls and psychic predictions..". But what the people who seem to be born with a sixth sense, who do not try to delve into the dimension, but can't avoid it? The connection is thrust upon them.

How are they suppose to view themselves, and how are they suppose to act?

(29)
nice jewish girl,
October 28, 2002 12:00 AM

concern for the young...

I was happy to see this article addressing witchcraft on your site. As a religious community I think it is important to tackle these issues. Today, especially in popular culture, witchcraft and occult practices are made to seem okay and even inviting to young people. Recently I went to a local bookstore and was appalled to see how many books in the childrens section were about teen witches, the history of wichcraft and other occult related titles. As a small child, I had brushes with this form of evil, through an older female babysitter of mine who owned a ouiji board and a Satanic bible. She also introduced me to a few "harmless" satanic games as well as astral projection, something that another commentator mentioned. If you have never experienced these things, I DO NOT recomend trying them, they fly in the face of G-d and are extreamly EVIL and we are told not to have anything to do with these things or the people who practice them. There is no room for grey area in this subject. I have experienced firsthand the absence of G-d in these practices. Make no mistake about it they are EVIL.

(28)
Anonymous,
October 27, 2002 12:00 AM

Perform Astral Projection, and prove yourself wrong

“Between God and this world of nature lies another bridge, which we shall call the "occult" or the quasi-spiritual.” Quasi-spiritual would infer that you view all of these things as childish, and imaginary. If you were to study and perform Astral Projection, you would *know* that there is a large piece of reality that Judaism, and the rest of the world, completely ignores.

(27)
Kira Sirote,
October 27, 2002 12:00 AM

For the record, Rambam (Maimonides) said that the occult is complete nonsense. It is evil and forbidden not because it works, but because it misleads people into thinking that there's a way "around" G-d.

(26)
Lewis B. Sternfels,
October 27, 2002 12:00 AM

One implication of the "supernatural" is that there are forces which are beyond our control and, therefore, over which we have no power. This, perhaps, is the result of a belief of a conflict between independant forces of good and evil, rather than a belief as expressed in the article. If, however, some such conflicts exist internally rather than externally, that is, within ourselves, we have the ability to influence at least some forces of good and evil. (Obviously, there are some matters over which we have no power, such as someone shooting another.) Where we do have such ability, it can be argued that this stems from man's creation where God left it to each of us, as individuals, to strive to perfecting ourselves. In addition, in opposition to those saying that we have no power to avoid the supernatural, we even can argue with God (Abraham, for example, did so) but, perhaps within confines, and produce a positive result.

(25)
Sharon,
November 25, 2001 12:00 AM

Question, if you do not believe in evil, how do you explain Hitler? Do you believe he was an agent of God or of evil?

(24)
Anonymous,
November 25, 2001 12:00 AM

When I was in high school I became involved with a group of Wiccans who taught me a lot about their beliefs, etc. I was impressed, and considering becoming Wiccan, but the whole double deity thing always bugged me. The leader of the Wiccan group encouraged me to examine my own faith first. The more I looked into it, the more I realized that Judaism offered everything I wanted (and needed) and all the rationalizations I created (the god and goddess are really just two halves of a whole and things like that) were pointless.
My perception of Judaism had been shaped by what Christians said about G-d and how Christians thought Jews viewed G-d. In the absence of any Jewish education from my parents or others, I had missed out on the broad subjects and subtle thinking Judaism encompasses.
My point? If you are Jewish and have become or are considering becoming Wiccan, Buddhist, or any other religion, look deeper into your own people's past. There is a rich enough store of philosophy, spirituality, and practical common sense to make replacing it with anything else seem absurd. Other religions are fine and possibly just as valid-- for others. As Jewish people, though, we have been given a wonderful gift, crafted to our unique needs, that ought not be tossed aside lightly.
Thank you for the article. I know now that I never truly strayed into idol worship, and I am much relieved. :)

(23)
Anonymous,
November 2, 2001 12:00 AM

The Occult is Bogus

It should be obvious that magic tricks are just sleight of hand, and that occult practices are fraudulent.
Belief in the occult is simply foolishness. It should also be obvious that midrashim (haggatic stories) which seem to attribute supernatural powers to rabbis in the Talmud, must be interpreted as allegories. Latter-day tales that tell of rebbes that perform miracles are simply fiction. My two cents.

(22)
Elisabeth McGrath,
November 2, 2001 12:00 AM

eye-opening

What can you say to today's teenagers who consult tarot cards, ouija boards.etc because they "don't believe in a magic giant in the sky"? What are they saying they actually DO believe in?

(21)
Anonymous,
November 1, 2001 12:00 AM

Kabbalah and Sorcery

What’s the difference between sorcery and Kabbalah? I was told that when the Rabbis of the Talmud performed super-natural acts such as creating a living calf out of clay, this was only after a process of perfecting themselves as Tzadaikim and studying Torah for many years. They performed these acts with God’s permission. Sorcery, on the other hand, is trying to tap into these same forces without God’s permission. If you like, gate-crashing God’s world! Many so-called Kabbalists that say that one can study Kabbalah, divorced from Torah and even without belief in God, are not Kabbalists at all. They are sorcerers!

(20)
Rhoda Lichtenstein,
November 1, 2001 12:00 AM

Could you also discuss the role of angels in Judiasm?

This was an interesting article. Now if you could do the same with what angels did or do now and if there is an afterlife are these people angels or were angels always angels or both

(19)
Kim,
October 31, 2001 12:00 AM

disturbing comments listed

Dear Aish Rabbis,
As you are reading the attraction to Wicca and the occult is rampant, especially amongst the youth. This is very disconcerting. After such a clear and conconsise article somehow many still have the impression these other religions are "good", "sanctioned as OK" within Judaism. Just a reminder to the commenters: G-d calls playing with such things an "abomination" and the author does a wonderful job sharing this point. DON'T PLAY WITH THIS STUFF.

(18)
,
October 31, 2001 12:00 AM

The witchcraft in itself is like spitting in God's face. We know that there is a spiritual world around us. But God specifically tells us not to put anything before him. If we want something supernatural to happen, ask God for it. By going to some other form of power (such as witchcraft) we are saying to God that we don't think that He can solve our problems/needs so we will take it upon ourselves. It is a lack of faith in God.

(17)
David Ben Rafael,
October 31, 2001 12:00 AM

Reality

The deity is NOT a genie to be brought forth by rubbing a bottle. The intelligence that designed the human nervous system, that created atoms and solar systems is not a simplistic "mystical" entity to be manipulated. Witchcraft, sorcery and Judaism do not go together. And remember Judaism is the ONLY religion that does not worship a human being, living or dead. The whole concept of "Moshiach" is what kept us from Israel for millenia. We need no "Moshiach" -- we need only obey the laws of the Torah. Not an interpretation of the laws -- the literal statement. The creator is a master of the simple declarative sentence, "DO This..." "Don't do that..." We must stop adding to his laws as well as subtracting from them. When the creator appointed the Levites and the sons of Aharon, he left no margin for elitism in Jewish society. We need no kings and we need no moshiach. We have Israel and we have the one deity. Now all we have to do is unify our community -- for the purpose of the laws is surely to bring harmony to the community. When we act as one, no power on earth can stand against us.

(16)
Barry Miller,
October 28, 2001 12:00 AM

This is an excellent article!!!!

I think this should be required reading in all temple and synagogue Sunday schools throughout the world. Kids can get into trouble with their fascination of the Occult.....and can be dangerous....just look at Columbine High School.
Parents need to be aware of this Jewish perspective on the occult and witchcraft.
Bravo!! excellent article.

(15)
Anonymous,
April 8, 2001 12:00 AM

Further confused a difficult situation

While Torah is very specific regarding witches and idol worship, I am afraid that your explanation seeks to simplify the issue by combining three very different practices - witchcraft, idolatry, and magic(k). Torah is replete with examples of each and its position is quite clear regarding each - when taken in the specific context in which it is presented.

Idolatry is anathma to Jewish practice and I exclude that from this response.
However, contemporary Wiccans practice presents a very peaceful, and non-threatening pagan relegion steeped in a respect for other humans and for nature and natural events. Magic(k)borrows heavily from the Kabbalah and other mystical Jewish mainstays. Intent in magic(k) as well as in Judiasm is important. A knife can do good or do evil. It all depends on who holds the weapon and how it is wielded.

I believe that lumping them together does each a disservice and further clouds a full understanding of biblical intent on three very significant religious and historical philosophies.

(14)
Laura,
April 6, 2001 12:00 AM

Thanx

i had to do a project on what witchcraft and Jews had to do with each other thanx for the help. Laura

(13)
Anonymous,
March 13, 2001 12:00 AM

Wicca is a really nice religion...

I am a Jewish teen girl. I am not Wiccan, nor any other similar Pagan religion, but I am very interested in it and a few of my personal beliefs about the world and life are represented by Wicca. Wicca is modern form of witchcraft, but that term is largely misunderstood. Just because someone is a "witch" does not mean they are evil, and it does not mean that they worship Satan. (That's actually the religion called Satanism, although there ARE some Satanists who believe in Satan as an idea or force, not the actual "devil.") Wicca, and other similar religions, are VERY peaceful nature religions. They do believe that the world is full of positive energy that can be shaped with spells (much like a prayer in other religions, like Judiasm) and that there is a God and a Goddess, representing the masculine AND feminine aspects of the world. Some WIccans believe in the God and the Goddess in a more literal sense than others. The code of ethics in Wicca is very clear: And it harm none, do what ye will. I think it is terrible that so many people make judgements about Wicca, and many other things in daily lives, before we really know anything about them.

(12)
DEBBIE WOOD,
November 18, 2000 12:00 AM

not comfused anymore.

This is very simple but very helpful to me to understand.I have been wondering about the new age practices and this article has help me to show this to the younger generation.They are very interested in the occolt.But I feel they are not getting enough spiritual help at home they are getting into something dangerous and need help to stay away from.Thank you this has helped alot.

(11)
Gwynne Sullivan,
November 17, 2000 12:00 AM

Thank you for explaining such a confusing issue for me.

In my experience, if one even mentions the word "occult" to a Christian, they give a dirty look and say it's the devil, not explaining anything. It seems as though none of them understand how to explain, they are so full of fear and judgement. Or, they deny its credence at all, as though it doesn't exist. Neither of these responses has been helpful to me, because I have always been moderate - aware that these forces exist, but wary of lending them too much attention. I have been waiting for an article like this for ages. Thank you for putting things in order for me, I hadn't thought I would find articles like this, especially on a site like this. Luckily for me, I came upon all of these things accidentally while looking up information on Jerusalem, where I just made a friend. This will be a site I frequent more often!

(10)
Anonymous,
November 12, 2000 12:00 AM

interesting new angle

Discussing this topic was a refreshingly new experience.In this age of quest for a new spirituality too many get lost on the way.It is especially tragic if Jews are lured into questionable sects that make belief that they are in essence Jewish while beeing purely christian sects.
Aish like all other Jewish websites should continuously warn against missionary sects and uncover their lies.

(9)
Abraham Rophie,
November 2, 2000 12:00 AM

Very interesting

I enjoyed the torah's view of witchcraft
Now I understand the meaning of the supernatural. Thankyou for explaining.

(8)
Masha Lee,
October 30, 2000 12:00 AM

The *occult * is not inherently evil but there is some danger involved in being led astray.

when commenting on artistic people who believe in a mystery underlying the universe, I take exception to these points: Many people who are spiritual seekers do indeed believe in God and avoid psychic phenonemena such as tea leaf reading and the like. Others are agnostic or atheist, though this would never be my choice, they live moral lives any how. I do agree if a fascination with that which is spiritual, not necessarily occult and not linked with God first and formost, there can be problems. People can be led astray. I myself was involved with Wicca and the like and moved away from it. Hear O, Israel the Lord is One. I live in accordance with Gods Will. That is the safest way to live for God knows us better than we know ourselves.

(7)
Anonymous,
October 30, 2000 12:00 AM

Excellent, informative, and accurate

Your article entitled "Witchcraft & Judaism" was an accurate, yet, informative display of "internet spiritual warfare", (not unlike the confrontation Elijah had with the prophets of Baal). As a Cristian living in western civilization, I am aware of the constant bombardment Harry Potter and the Blair Witch Project tales, (both, which have undermined and misrepresented God's plan for individual creativity). Though these are potentially harmless "thrills of excitemtent" to the masses, I believe they do, nevertheless, plant seeds within young minds that slowly errode any future resistance to the attraction to the occult. God has given each of us a special gift called "imagination".Rightly used, it becomes a teaching tool in His hands. However, an imagination left unattended by morality, eventually becomes it's own idol. I enjoyed your article very much. Thankyou.

(6)
Anonymous,
October 30, 2000 12:00 AM

Need More Articles On This Topic

I am very pleased with your discussion of this topic. There are many Jews who were raised in a totally secular environment and who are identifying themselves now as either xtians (they erroneous think that the "miracles" that j. performed were his own power) or who have resorted to some form of atheism, agnosticism or paganism. Several Jews who are identifying themselves as pagans are posting on the Jewish Message Boards of various internet servers. Please continue to address various aspects of this topic. The general public unfortunately thinks that idol worship only means bowing down to a wood or stone statue.
Thank you!

(5)
A.K. Baumgard,
October 30, 2000 12:00 AM

Very astute

This is a very intelligent, and yet accesible, explanation. I wish many contemporary churches could use such a forthright explnations for their youth.

(4)
Holly Manthey,
October 29, 2000 12:00 AM

Enlightened and uplifted

I should probably first introduce myself. I am 37 years old, a mother--and Catholic. I first logged on to Aish at the invitation of my dearest friend, who is Jewish. Originally, I thought to have a better understanding of her beliefs, and find some common ground in our spiritual lives. What I have found in the various articles is a deepening appreciation for Judaism itself as the roots of my own faith. I have yet to find a story that does not enlighten my mind and uplight my soul. I find that there is much more in common in our two faiths than I ever realized--for me, a tremendous blessing.

(3)
Yehoshua Yitzchak Schlenger,
October 29, 2000 12:00 AM

A truly intellectual and wholesome approach to the supernatural within Judaism

Rabbi Ahron Lopiansky in this article has truly emphasized the Divine power exacted over the entire of the universe, and how no place is devoid of the Almighty's Presence. He has utilized this in order to distinguish the idolatrous magic of Near Eastern and some Western cults from the Divinely sanctioned powers endowed to the great men and women who have represented Judaism for millenia. Yasher Koach!

(2)
,
October 29, 2000 12:00 AM

Growing closer to G-d

This article is excellent, and it helped me better understand Judaism's attitude toward witchcraft, the occult, and superstition. I must admit that I wish sometimes that it wasn't against the Torah. That way, a Jew could turn Yasir Arafat into a vegetable. Well, the Torah does have a better way. By practicing Torah and growing closer to G-d and to each other, we can make things better.

(1)
hank SILVERMAN,
October 29, 2000 12:00 AM

beautifully explained and understood

As ajew who is slowly returning Aish HaTorah and its techings are educating me every day. I am studying with two Rabbis and learning my way each day. Thank you for all you do to help people like me.

I'm told that it's a mitzvah to become intoxicated on Purim. This puzzles me, because to my understanding, it is not considered a good thing to become intoxicated, period.

One of the characteristics of the at-risk youth is their use of drugs, including alcohol. In my experience, getting drunk doesn't reveal secrets. It makes people act stupid and irresponsible, doing things they would never do if they were sober. Also, I know a lot about the horrible health effects of abusing alcohol, because I work at a research center that focuses on addiction and substance abuse.

Also, I am an alcoholic, which means that if I drink, very bad things happen. I have not had a drink in 22 years, and I have no intention of starting now. Surely there must be instances where a person is excused from the obligation to drink. I don't see how Judaism could ever promote the idea of getting drunk. It just doesn't seem right.

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

Putting aside for a moment all the spiritual and philosophical reasons for getting drunk on Purim, this remains an issue of common sense. Of course, teenagers should be warned of the dangers of acute alcohol ingestion. Of course, nobody should drink and drive. Of course, nobody should become so drunk to the point of negligence in performing mitzvot. And of course, a recovering alcoholic should not partake of alcohol on Purim.

Indeed, the Code of Jewish Law explicitly says that if one suspects the drinking may affect him negatively, then he should NOT drink.

Getting drunk on Purim is actually one of the most difficult mitzvot to do correctly. A person should only drink if it will lead to positive spiritual results - e.g. under the loosening affect of the alcohol, greater awareness will surface of the love for God and Torah found deep in the heart. (Perhaps if we were on a higher spiritual level, we wouldn't need to get drunk!)

Yet the Talmud still speaks of an obligation on Purim of "not knowing the difference between Blessed is Mordechai and Cursed is Haman." How then should a person who doesn't drink get the point of “not knowing”? Simple - just go to sleep! (Rama - OC 695:2)

All this applies to individuals. But the question remains - does drinking on Purim adversely affect the collective social health of the Jewish community?

The aversion to alcoholism is engrained into Jewish consciousness from a number of Biblical and Talmudic sources. There are the rebuking words of prophets - Isaiah 28:1, Hosea 3:1 with Rashi, and Amos 6:6, and the Zohar says that "The wicked stray after wine" (Midrash Ne'alam Parshat Vayera).

It is well known that the rate of alcoholism among Jews has historically been very low. Numerous medical, psychological and sociological studies have confirmed this. The connection between Judaism and sobriety is so evident, that the following conversation is reported by Lawrence Kelemen in "Permission to Receive":

When Dr. Mark Keller, editor of the Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol, commented that "practically all Jews do drink, and yet all the world knows that Jews hardly ever become alcoholics," his colleague, Dr. Howard Haggard, director of Yale's Laboratory of Applied Physiology, jokingly proposed converting alcoholics to the Jewish religion in order to immerse them in a culture with healthy attitudes toward drinking!

Perhaps we could suggest that it is precisely because of the use of alcohol in traditional ceremonies (Kiddush, Bris, Purim, etc.), that Jews experience such low rates of alcoholism. This ceremonial usage may actually act like an inoculation - i.e. injecting a safe amount that keeps the disease away.

Of course, as we said earlier, all this needs to be monitored with good common sense. Yet in my personal experience - having been in the company of Torah scholars who were totally drunk on Purim - they acted with extreme gentleness and joy. Amid the Jewish songs and beautiful words of Torah, every year the event is, for me, very special.

Adar 12 marks the dedication of Herod's renovations on the second Holy Temple in Jerusalem in 11 BCE. Herod was king of Judea in the first century BCE who constructed grand projects like the fortresses at Masada and Herodium, the city of Caesarea, and fortifications around the old city of Jerusalem. The most ambitious of Herod's projects was the re-building of the Temple, which was in disrepair after standing over 300 years. Herod's renovations included a huge man-made platform that remains today the largest man-made platform in the world. It took 10,000 men 10 years just to build the retaining walls around the Temple Mount; the Western Wall that we know today is part of that retaining wall. The Temple itself was a phenomenal site, covered in gold and marble. As the Talmud says, "He who has not seen Herod's building, has never in his life seen a truly grand building."

Some people gauge the value of themselves by what they own. But in reality, the entire concept of ownership of possessions is based on an illusion. When you obtain a material object, it does not become part of you. Ownership is merely your right to use specific objects whenever you wish.

How unfortunate is the person who has an ambition to cleave to something impossible to cleave to! Such a person will not obtain what he desires and will experience suffering.

Fortunate is the person whose ambition it is to acquire personal growth that is independent of external factors. Such a person will lead a happy and rewarding life.

With exercising patience you could have saved yourself 400 zuzim (Berachos 20a).

This Talmudic proverb arose from a case where someone was fined 400 zuzim because he acted in undue haste and insulted some one.

I was once pulling into a parking lot. Since I was a bit late for an important appointment, I was terribly annoyed that the lead car in the procession was creeping at a snail's pace. The driver immediately in front of me was showing his impatience by sounding his horn. In my aggravation, I wanted to join him, but I saw no real purpose in adding to the cacophony.

When the lead driver finally pulled into a parking space, I saw a wheelchair symbol on his rear license plate. He was handicapped and was obviously in need of the nearest parking space. I felt bad that I had harbored such hostile feelings about him, but was gratified that I had not sounded my horn, because then I would really have felt guilty for my lack of consideration.

This incident has helped me to delay my reactions to other frustrating situations until I have more time to evaluate all the circumstances. My motives do not stem from lofty principles, but from my desire to avoid having to feel guilt and remorse for having been foolish or inconsiderate.

Today I shall...

try to withhold impulsive reaction, bearing in mind that a hasty act performed without full knowledge of all the circumstances may cause me much distress.

With stories and insights,
Rabbi Twerski's new book Twerski on Machzor makes Rosh Hashanah prayers more meaningful. Click here to order...